Sri Lanka declares state of emergency

World

Published: 2022-07-18 11:04

Last Updated: 2024-03-27 19:18


Sri Lanka declares state of emergency
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency

Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency in the country, according to a government notice published late Sunday.

This came as the Wickremesinghe administration seeks to calm social unrest and tackle an economic crisis afflicting the country.

“It is expedient, so to do, in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community,” the notice stated.

Sri Lanka's ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled abroad this week to escape an uprising against his government, has said he has taken "all possible steps" to avert the economic crisis that has engulfed the country.